Homesick Texan gift guide 2011

Doing things for others is said to be a path to happiness and that may be why this time of year is filled with so much joy. While I’ve been searching for gifts for my family and friends, I’ve come across a few items that would be perfect for that Texan in your life. So without further ado, here is my 2011 Homesick Texan gift guide.

Texas gift towels, glasses, plates and more My mom does this great thing where she wraps gifts in dishtowels, which means that I haven’t had to buy one in years due to a ready supply. That said, when I came across some mighty fine Texas dishtowels made by Catstudio, I knew I had to add one or two to my collection. Catstudio has also applied its design prowess to creating themed dishtowels for the cities Austin, Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth, along with fabulous glasses, plates and throw pillows. Cute, fun and practical!

Texas pecans Last week when I was home for Thanksgiving, I probably ate over a pound of local pecans. Sure, pecans grow in other places, but those from Texas are definitely the sweetest, most flavorful pecans around. In New York City, it’s difficult to find Texas pecans but I’ve found a few places that do mail order. And if you’re looking for some pecan candy to go along with your nuts, there’s Oliver Pecan Co., which is based in San Saba, the pecan capital of the world. Friday Night Lights, The Complete Series It’s Texas high school football playoff season, an occasion on proud display in many of the small towns I drove through while I was home for Thanksgiving. Seeing the numerous signs showing support for all the hometown teams made me nostalgic, not only for my own high school days but for the show “Friday Night Lights,” which ended this year. While I’ll never be 17 again, thanks to thiss DVD collection of all five season I can at least revisit this quintessential show about Texas small-town life.

Texas Waffle Maker When I mentioned Texas-shaped baking pans last year, many of you told me about your Texas waffle makers. “Waffles shaped like Texas are the best,” you insisted. And indeed, I had the opportunity to try many Texas-shaped waffles myself this year as I traveled around the state staying at various motels that had them on offer at their breakfast buffets. And if you’re wondering, yes it’s true—waffles shaped like Texas do taste better!

Signed copies of The Homesick Texan Cookbook Okay, I realize I’m a bit biased in listing my book but I’ve been told by my mom that The Homesick Texan Cookbook makes a superb gift. (Though apparently others such as The New York Times, Epicurious and Amazon agree.) You can buy it wherever books are sold.

While you’re book shopping, you should also check out two other Texas cookbooks that came out this year: Lou Lambert’s and June Naylor’s Big Ranch, Big City Cookbook, a beautiful survey of Lou’s delicious West Texas-inspired cooking, and a reissue of Cheryl and Bill Jamison’s Texas Home Cooking, a classic that has recipes for just about everything.

Texas relief This year has been a tough one for Texas. The ongoing drought has brought on a series of disasters, such as the loss of crops and livestock, not to mention the horrible wildfires that devastated parts of the state. In light of all this, a charitable donation to a disaster relief organization working to help Texas is an excellent way to give back to the place you love. There are many, but here are a few to get you started: Central Texas Red Cross or one of the other Red Cross chapters across Texas; Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development, and the state government’s own fund, The Texas Disaster Fund.

Of course, there are many other terrific gifts for homesick Texans. For instance, if you’re looking for grapefruits, barbecue, tamales or more, then check out this gift guide, this gift guide and this gift guide from previous years.

The bad drought years have shrunk pecan crops. Additionally the supply is affected by China's new infatuation with pecans. Evidently in a good year, Texas marketed pecans internationally and got China hooked on them. I have seen news articles that say 30% of the crop is being sent overseas. Per pound prices over the past 18 months have risen to almost double.

We just made a run to Dublin last weekend, and got 12 cases of Dr Pepper! (Not all mine – 4 for me, the rest for 2 of my sons) After the boys made their first Dublin run last Spring, I haven't had a "regular" Dr Pepper since. I'm fortunate we live within a few hours of Dublin! 😀

Congratulations of the listing of your cookbook in The New Yorks Times article "The Year’s Notable Cookbooks". Even Yankees appreciate your work. Now, if you could just teach them how to wave thank-you to you when you get out of the way for them to pass you.

There are some Texan transplants who just joined us in Kalamazoo (Yes!), and I think that we'll have to get a copy of your book for them this Christmas. Maybe we'll even have a six pack or two of Shiner as we flip through the pages. 🙂

Just wanted to add my go to sources for NY folks missing Texas: texastamales@yahoo.com The Texas Tamale Warehouse. Great tamales shipped fresh. And Berdoll's pecan's in Elgin, TX just outside Austin. Also not Texan just Southern, but I do order Sister Shubert's rolls as well, since I can't get them in the city either.

If you're a homesick Texan raised on Mrs Baird's bread, you can go to their website http://www.mrsbairds.com and order bread. BTW…we have 16 pecan trees and this year's crop was so pitiful (and we watered as best we could!). Will be checking out your book on Amazon.

I received a birthday present from my friend in Austin – a sample pack of 6 sauce & salsas from Texas Wild – Meier Ranch, and I have to tell you that they #1 make the best salsa & a pecan BBQ sauce to die for, #2 are great people & #3 have excellent customer service. You don't have to post this – just wanted to point you in their direction. Stef

Don't know if you're one and the same Lisa Fain from Austin College, but if so, just wanted to say congrats on your awesome-sounding cookbook, Homesick Texan. I just read about it in the NYT holiday gift guide. That's a coup! I already know exactly who I'm buying this book for and I can't wait to read it/get behind the stove with it myself. For I, too, am a homesick Texan.

I feel very slow on the draw here! The latest season of Top Chef (and my best friend being in Texas right now with her, yup, Texan husband!) has me newly curious about Texan cuisine. Can't wait to keep reading your blog and I am muy curiosa about your book!

Love your blog and the recipes from it. Your cookbook arrived yesterday…YAY!!! It's difficult to source some of the ingredients here (Perth, Western Australia) but I've been on a mission to hunt them down from elsewhere! Can't wait to get stuck into these recipes too 🙂

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